Sea of Galilee | lake, Israel | Britannica.com Sea of Galilee Alternative Titles: Buḥayrat Ṭabarīyā, Lake of Gennesaret, Lake Tiberias, Sea of Kinerot, Sea of Kinneret, Yam Kinneret Related Topics Asia Sea of Galilee, also called Lake Tiberias, Arabic Buḥayrat Ṭabarīyā, Hebrew Yam Kinneret, lake in Israel through which the Jordan River flows. It is famous for its biblical associations; its Old Testament name was Sea of Chinnereth, and later it was called the Lake of Gennesaret. From 1948 to 1967 it was bordered immediately to the northeast by the cease-fire line with Syria . Sea of Galilee, Israel. Nadavspi Physical features The lake has a surface area of 64 square miles (166 square km). Its maximum depth, measured in the northeast, is 157 feet (48 metres). Extending 13 miles (21 km) from north to south and 7 miles (11 km) from east to west, it is pear-shaped.

Its surface elevation was long given as 686 feet (209 metres) below sea level, but for decades the annual water level generally has been 6.5 to 13 feet (2 to 4 metres) below the traditional level. Mountains rising beyond the Sea of Galilee, Israel. © AbleStock.com/Jupiterimages The Sea of Galilee is located in the great depression of the Jordan . The Plain of Gennesaret extends in a circular arc from the north to the northwest, and the Plain of Bet Ẓayda (Buteiha) in Syria extends to the northeast. To the west and southwest, the hills of Lower Galilee fall abruptly to the lake’s edge. In the mid-eastern sections, the cliffs of the Golan Heights overlook the lake. The plateau reappears again in the southeast, becoming larger as it approaches the valley of the Yarmūk River , a tributary that has its confluence with the Jordan a short distance to the south of the lake. Also to the south, the plain of the Ghawr (Ghor) begins, but the Sea of Galilee is separated from it by a narrow ridge through which the Jordan River flows.

Similar Topics Chilka Lake The greatest part of the region is covered by basalts that have been formed since the Miocene Epoch (about 23 to 5.3 million years ago) and that are part of the vast area of Mount Durūz , located in Syria. Since the Miocene Epoch began, lacustrine limestones and marls (calcareous clays) have been deposited. The Jordan Valley is part of the East African Rift System , which forms the deep trench through which a tributary of the Jordan River passes to the east of the lake. Smaller and less-important faults occur to the west. The depression was hollowed out at the end of the Pliocene Epoch (about 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago) and was partially filled in again by lacustrine and fluvial sediments. During the humid periods of the Quaternary Period (the past 2.6 million years), the Dead Sea extended up to this point. During the last pluvial period, about 20,000 years ago, a great lake called the Lake of Lisan covered the region. Since then the waters have receded.

Because of its sheltered location, low elevation, and the influence of the lake itself, the winters are mild, with temperatures averaging 57 °F (14 °C) in January. The absence of freezing temperatures has facilitated the cultivation of bananas, dates, citrus fruit, and vegetables. The summers are hot, with temperatures averaging 88 °F (31 °C), and the precipitation—almost 15 inches (380 mm) at Deganya—falls, in the course of a winter of less than 50 days, in the form of brief but violent showers. The Sea of Galilee is fed primarily by the Jordan River. Other streams and wadis (seasonal watercourses) flow into the lake from the hills of Galilee. In the rivers associated with the lake and at the bottom of the lake itself are many mineral deposits. Because of those deposits and because of the strong evaporation, the lake’s waters are relatively salty. Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent Because of a pleasant climate, level topography , fertile soil, and relatively abundant water, the rivers flowing into the lake and the adjacent plains have throughout history been the source of livelihood for various peoples.

At El-ʿUbeidīya, 2 miles (3 km) south of the lake, lacustrine formations dating from about 400,000 to 500,000 years ago have revealed prehistoric tools and two human fragments, which are among the oldest in the Middle East . Canaanite (ancient Palestinian) structures have been uncovered that date to between 1000 and 2000 bce. Kefar Naḥum (Capernaum), Israel, along the Sea of Galilee. © Eli Mordechai/Shutterstock.com In the 1st century ce the region was rich and populated. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote of nine cities on the shores of the lake in ancient times, but of those only Tiberias has survived. Tiberias, on the western shore, was one of the four Jewish holy cities, and Kefar Naḥum (ancient Capernaum ), near the northwestern shore, has preserved one of the most beautiful synagogues of the Galilee region, dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries ce.

A sanctuary for the Druze (an independent sect founded in the 11th century with a creed containing elements of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) is located near Kefar Ḥittim near the western shore. The Sea of Galilee is especially well known to Christians because it was the scene of many episodes in the life of Jesus Christ , including his Sermon on the Mount , at which he first gave the blessings of the Beatitudes and first taught the Lord’s Prayer . The region was also the site of the first Jewish kibbutz , Deganya , established in 1909. Church of the Beatitudes on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee, Israel, built on the … Bantosh For the past few centuries the Plain of Gennesaret, to the northwest, and the area around Deganya, to the south, have been systematically developed through irrigation and intensive agricultural techniques. Fishing has also been developed, notably from Tiberias and Gennesaret and at En Gev, on the eastern shore.

Significant catches of fish are netted annually from motorboats and trawlers; sardines are mainly caught in winter, though, together with larger fish, they are also caught at other seasons. Thermal springs have enabled modern health resorts to be created, and the baths at Tiberias are among Israel’s most important winter resort attractions. Similar baths are to be found at Tabigha, or ʿEn Shevaʿ (the seven springs of Bathsheba), on the northwest shore. Connect with Britannica Sea of Galilee - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Located in northern Israel, the Sea of Galilee is really a lake. It is pear-shaped, 13 miles (21 kilometers) from north to south, and 7 miles (11 kilometers) east to west. Situated 686 feet (209 meters) below the level of the Mediterranean Sea, its surface area is 64 square miles (166 square kilometers), and the maximum depth is 157 feet (48 meters). The Jordan River flows into the Sea of Galilee from Syria and continues south out of it.

The lake would be an inconsequential one but for two reasons: powerful historical associations and current economic value. Article History Kinneret, Lake KINNERET, LAKE KINNERET, LAKE (Heb. יָם כִּנְרֶת, Yam Kinneret, or םָי כִּנְרוֹת, Yam Kinnerot), freshwater lake in N.E. Israel. The Jordan enters it from the north and flows out from the south. Several names have been applied to the lake in the past, including "Sea of Chinneroth" or "Chinnereth" (Josh. 13:27; 12:3), "Water of Gennesar" ( I Macc. 11:67), and "Lake of Gennesareth" (Jos., Wars, 3:506), while in the New Testament it is called "the Sea of Galilee" or simply "the Sea" (Matt.

4:18; 17:27; John 6:1; etc.), and sometimes "the sea of Gennesareth" or "the sea of Tiberias" (Luke 5:1; John 6:1; 21:1). In talmudic sources it is usually called yammah shel Teveryah ("sea of Tiberias," Tosef. Suk. 3:9, etc.). The Arabs also called it Baḥr al-Ṭabariya. In Israel the biblical name Yam Kinneret has been revived. Physical Data The lake occupies a section of the central Jordan Rift Valley. It covers an area of 64 sq. mi. (165 sq. km.). The level of the water surface, which varies considerably with the shift from rainy to drought years, averages 696 ft. (213 m.) below Mediterranean sea level. The water is deepest, 144 ft. (44 m.) on the average, northeast of the lake's center. The region of Lake Kinneret has a seismic character, borne out by hot mineral springs on its bottom and on its circumference.

The lake was created in its present form when, in the recent geologic past, its bottom subsided more strongly than the area south of it, where diagonally posed young rock strata testify to an uplift which created a sill preventing the drainage of Jordan and other waters coming in from the north. Whereas the lake is thought to have originally been more or less rectangular, streams entering it, in addition to the Jordan itself, deposited alluvial material thus creating the Ginnesar Valley in the northwest and the Bethsaida (Buṭayḥa) Valley in the northeast and rounding off the north shore. At the same time, erosion at the Jordan's outflow in the south contributed to give the lake its present pear-like shape, with a north-south length of 15 mi. (23 km.) and a maximum east-west width of 10 mi. (16 km.). Alluvium deposited by the Yarmuk River in the south blocked the inflow of this watercourse into the lake and displaced the Jordan outflow to the southwest corner of the lake.

Although the waters entering the lake are fresh, brackish springs at the lake bottom and near its shore raise its water salinity; strong evaporation in the region's hot climate further increases the water's salt content. Measurements taken in the 1950s and 1960s show oscillations in salinity ranging from 250 to 400 mm/liter chlorine content, again to be attributed to the varying amount of water entering the lake; the more water fills the lake, the better the saline bottom springs are plugged by its weight, causing a further reduction in salinity. History Owing to its abundant water supply, warm climate, the fertile land in its vicinity, and the numerous fish in the lake, Lake Kinneret has attracted man since prehistoric times; in fact, the most ancient human remains and artifacts found in Ereẓ Israel come from ʿUbaydiyya not far from its shores. In Neolithic times the inhabitants of the Yarmuk valley adjoining the lake engaged in agricultural activities ("hoe" agriculture).

In the Early Bronze Age some of the largest cities in Canaan were founded there, in particular, *Bet Yeraḥ, a site of some 60 acres (250 dunams). The Via Maris (Maritime Route) which passed its shores contributed to the wealth of the riparian cities. Egyptian documents (Papyrus Anastasi I ) mention the hot springs on its shores and their beneficent effects. In the Bible, Kinneret serves as a prominent boundary mark: it was the border of Sihon king of the Amorites (Deut. 3:17); its western shores were in the possession of Naphtali, whose cities of Hammath, Rakkath, and *Chinnereth were situated along its banks; most of the eastern shore belonged to Manasseh, and the tribe of Gad extended up to its southern end (Josh. 12:3; 13:27). In the time of David, Geshur held part of its northeastern coastline, and after the division of the monarchy the kings of Israel had to engage in combat with Aram for control of its eastern shore; in this the Omrid dynasty was most successful. In 732 B.C.E.

Sea of Galilee (BiblePlaces.com) – BiblePlaces.com Sea of Galilee Southern Wildlife Sea of Galilee Also known as Bahr Tubariya, Ginnosar, Lake of Galilee, Lake of Gennesaret, Lake of Gennesar, Sea of Chinnereth, Sea of Chinneroth, Sea of Kinnereth, Sea of Tiberias, Lake of Tiberias, Waters of Gennesaret, Yam Kinneret Plain of Gennesaret The Plain of Gennesaret spreads out below the Arbel cliffs. About five miles long and two miles wide, this stretch of land alongside the Sea of Galilee’s northwest shore was renowned for its fertility. Josephus wrote that it was “wonderful in its characteristics and in its beauty. Thanks to the rich soil there is not a plant that does not flourish there, and the inhabitants grow everything: the air is so temperate that it suits the most diverse species.” View from Northwest The Sea of Galilee is fed by the Jordan River, rainfall and springs on the northern side. More properly designated a lake, the Kinneret (the OT and modern name) is 13 miles long and 7 miles wide.

At its deepest point the lake is only 150 feet deep. The rabbis said of it, “Although God has created seven seas, yet He has chosen this one as His special delight.” View from Arbel From the summit of Mount Arbel on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, one can see the entire lake, the city of Tiberias, the mountains of Galilee, and the Golan Heights. On a clear day, Mount Hermon is visible. Hippos and Harbors Hippos (Susita) was a major city of the Decapolis located on a round hill overlooking the shore. The modern harbor of Kibbutz En Gev is visible below it. In the first century, at least 16 harbors were located on the lake. All the lake’s settlements had their own harbor, even if it was very small. The largest one belonged to Gadara had a 200 meter breakwater. Wooden Boat Reconstruction In 1986 a wooden vessel from the first century was discovered near Nof Ginosar on the lake’s northwestern shore.

Studies have determined the type of wood that was used (mainly cedar and oak), the style of construction (mortise and tenon joints), the date (on the basis of construction techniques, pottery and Carbon 14 tests) and the size (26 by 7 feet – big enough for 15 men). Pictured at right is a reconstruction of what the ancient boat might have looked like. This was formerly on display at Kibbutz En Gev. St. Peter's Fish Three types of fish were primarily sought by fishermen in antiquity in these waters. Sardines likely were the “two small fish” that the boy brought to the feeding of the 5000. Sardines and bread were the staple product of the locals. Barbels are so known because of the barbs at the corners of their mouths. The third type is called musht but is more popularly known today as “St. Peter’s Fish.” This fish has a long dorsal fin which looks like a comb and can be up to 1.5 feet long and 3.3 lbs in weight. Sunset The peaceful calm of the Sea of Galilee can quickly become transformed by a violent storm.

Winds funnel through the east-west aligned Galilee hill country and stir up the waters quickly. More violent are the winds that come off the hills of the Golan Heights to the east. Trapped in the basin, the winds can be deadly to fishermen. A storm in March 1992 sent waves 10 feet high crashing into downtown Tiberias and causing significant damage. Order These Photos on the DVD Set Galilee and the North Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee), Northern Israel : Image of the Day News & Notes acquired August 15, 2009 download large image (1 MB, JPEG, 1440x2168) Israel’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Tiberias, is also known as the Sea of Tiberias, Lake of Gennesaret, Lake Kinneret, and the Sea of Galilee. The lake measures just more than 21 kilometers (13 miles) north-south, and it is only 43 meters (141 feet) deep. The lake is fed partly by underground springs related to the Jordan sector of the Great Rift Valley , but most of its water comes from the Jordan River, which enters from the north.

The river’s winding course can be seen draining the south end of the lake at image bottom. Angular green and brown field patterns clothe most hillsides in this arid landscape. Bright roof tops are the hallmark of several villages in the area. The largest grouping of bright roofs and city blocks indicates the location of Tiberias (named for the Roman Emperor Tiberius), visible at image left on the southwestern shore of the lake. War, earthquakes, and even a flood in 1934 have resulted in heavy damage to the town in the last 2,000 years, but it is now Israel’s most popular holiday destination. Ruins of the famous biblical town of Capernaum, re-discovered in 1838 by the American explorer Edward Robinson, lie just north of Tiberias on the northwestern shore of Lake Tiberias. Excavations have revealed a synagogue from the fourth or fifth century, making it one of the oldest in the world.

Astronaut photograph ISS020-E-31066 was acquired on August 15, 2009, with a Nikon D2Xs digital camera fitted with an 400 mm lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by the Expedition 20 crew. The image in this article has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast. Lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Caption by M. Justin Wilkinson, NASA-JSC. Instrument(s): Sea of Galilee « See The Holy Land Israel Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes (James Emery) Among Holy Land sites, the Sea of Galilee has changed comparatively little since Jesus walked on its shores and recruited four fishermen as his first disciples.

A picturesque, heart-shaped lake set among hills in northern Israel, it is one of the lowest-lying bodies of water on earth (some 210 metres below sea level). This freshwater “sea” is 21km long and 13km across at its widest point, with a maximum depth of 43 metres. Its other names include the Sea of Tiberias, the Lake of Gennesaret and (in Hebrew) Lake Chinnereth or Kinneret. Fed mainly by the Jordan River and drained by it, the lake serves as Israel’s chief water reservoir. In modern times tourism has become the major local industry. In Jesus’ time it was fishing, with 230 boats regularly working the lake and their catch dried and exported all over the Roman world. Jesus made the fishing town of Capernaum the centre of his itinerant ministry in Galilee, using the lake, its boats and its shores to spread his Good News. He calmed a storm, he walked on the water and probably even swam in the lake. Miracles on the shore It was around the usually serene waters of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus began his public ministry, teaching in the synagogues and curing the sick.

Crowds flocked to him, “for he taught as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:29). Boatman demonstrates fishing technique on the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Perhaps his best-known discourse, the Sermon on the Mount, is believed to have been delivered on the Mount of Beatitudes (also known as Mount Eremos). This small hill is on the lake’s northwestern shore, between Capernaum and Tabgha . Tabgha is also the traditional site where Jesus fed a crowd of 5000 with five loaves and two fish. Later, across the lake near Kursi, he performed a second miraculous feeding. The Heptapegon (“Seven Springs”) fishing ground off Tabgha was also the scene of a memorable post-Resurrection appearance. The apostles had fished all night with empty nets. Just after daybreak Jesus appeared and told them where to find a miraculous catch. When the apostles came ashore, they found the risen Lord had cooked breakfast for them.

Acoustics aided parable Visitors look down on Sower’s Cove (© BiblePlaces.com) About 1km northeast of Tabgha is a small bay with exceptional acoustic qualities. Here it is believed Jesus taught the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9) from a boat moored in the bay. The semicircular bay, at the foot of the Mount of Beatitudes, is one of the most attractive places along the shoreline. It is called Sower’s Cove or the Bay of the Parables. The slope of the hill forms a natural amphitheatre, rather like a Roman theatre. Acoustical research has demonstrated that as many as 7000 people could hear a person speaking from a boat in the bay. Pilgrims who test the acoustics, usually by reading the Gospel account, are amazed at how far the voice carries. This location was also an appropriate setting for the story of the sower and his seeds. There is fertile black earth, rocky ground and plenty of thorns and thistles.

Sudden squalls are common Waves on the Sea of Galilee (David Niblack) Because it lies low in the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by hills, the Sea of Galilee is prone to sudden turbulence. Storms of the kind that Jesus calmed (Mark 4:35-41) are a well-known hazard for Galilee fishermen. With little warning, mighty squalls can sweep down the wadis (valleys) around the lake, whipping its tranquil surface into treacherous waves. Such storms often arrive in mid-afternoon, as the heat of the rift valley (averaging mid-30s Celsius in the shade) sucks down the cool air of the heights. After half an hour, the wind drops and the waves subside, restoring calm to the lake. In 1986, during a severe drought when the water level dropped, the remains of an ancient fishing boat were found in the lakebed. It was old enough to have been on the water in the time of Jesus and his disciples. Dubbed the Jesus Boat , it is now on permanent display at the lakeside Kibbutz Ginosar.

A fish with a coin in its mouth Modern times have still seen fishermen standing in the shallow waters near the shores of the Sea of Galilee, casting their nets in the traditional manner, with others setting off in boats at sunset to fish through the night. Because of falling fish stocks, the Israel government was to impose a two-year ban on fishing from March 2011, but this was reduced to a four-month annual ban (April 15 to August 15). St Peter’s fish from the Sea of Galilee (© David Q. Hall) Of the 27 species of fish in the lake, the best-known is nicknamed St Peter’s Fish. This species (Sarotherodon galilaeus galilaeus) belongs to the genus tilapia. Its Arabic name of musht (comb) refers to its comb-like tail. The nickname refers to the Gospel passage in which Temple collectors ask Peter whether Jesus pays the Temple tax. When Peter returns home, Jesus tells him to go fishing — “go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me”.

(Matthew 17:24-27) A peculiarity of this species of tilapia is that it is a mouthbrooder. The female holds her eggs in her mouth until they hatch; then, for a time, the immature fry swim back into her mouth when danger threatens. The fish is also known to pick up small stones or bottle tops in its mouth. But not everyone agrees that St Peter’s Fish was a musht. Mendel Nun, an authority on the Sea of Galilee, and a veteran fisherman, says musht feed on plankton and are therefore caught by net, not hook. The fish Peter caught, he believes, was a barbel. Even Mark Twain was impressed Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee (© Tom Callinan/Seetheholyland.net) The first-century Roman historian Flavius Josephus was so impressed by the beauty of the Sea of Galilee and the fertility of its setting that he wrote, “One may call this place the ambition of Nature”. Even the satirical Mark Twain, who visited Galilee on horseback in 1867, was moved by the significance of the place.

In The Innocents Abroad he wrote: “In the starlight, Galilee has no boundaries but the broad compass of the heavens, and is a theatre meet for great events; meet for the birth of a religion able to save a world; and meet for the stately Figure appointed to stand upon its stage and proclaim its high decrees.

“But in the sunlight, one says: Is it for the deeds which were done and the words which were spoken in this little acre of rocks and sand eighteen centuries gone, that the bells are ringing to-day in the remote islands of the sea and far and wide over continents that clasp the circumference of the huge globe?” Jesus calls his disciples: Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9; Mark 1:16-20 The miraculous catch of fish: Luke 5:1-11 Jesus calms the storm: Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25 Jesus walks on the water: Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52 The Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:1-7:28 The Parable of the Sower: Mark 4:1-9 The feedings of the crowds: Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-39; Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-9; Luke 9:10-17; John

 6:1-14 Paying the Temple tax: Matthew 17:24-27 Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes (James Emery) Harp-shaped Sea of Galilee from above (NASA) Edge of the Sea of Galilee (© Israel Ministry of Tourism) Tabgha from Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Pilgrim group on the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Kinneret village, the lake and Golan Heights (© Israel Ministry of Tourism) Sea of Galilee looking towards the Golan Heights (© Israel Ministry of Tourism) Monument on the Eremos hillcrest, quoting Jesus’ words “Go teach all nations” (© Don Schwager) Ancient fishing boat known as the Jesus Boat (Seetheholyland.net) Model of the Jesus Boat as it would have been (Seetheholyland.net) Modern equivalent of the Jesus Boat on the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Boatman demonstrates fishing technique on the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Fishing net hits the water of the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) St Peter’s fish from the Sea

 of Galilee (© David Q.

Hall) St Peter’s fish on the plate (Seetheholyland.net) Pilgrims paddle in the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Fertile land by the Sea of Galilee (David Niblack) Sower’s Cove or the Bay of the Parables (© Don Schwager) Sower’s Cove from the air (© BiblePlaces.com) Visitors look down on Sower’s Cove (© BiblePlaces.com) Sower’s Cove in 2009, with water level lower than in Jesus’ time (Seetheholyland.net) Moonlight over the Sea of Galilee (© Tom Callinan/Seetheholyland.net) Modern fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee (© David Q.

Hall) Eucharist by the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Sea of Galilee at sunrise (Brett Wagner) Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, by Ludolf Bakhuysen (© Indianapolis Museum of Art) Sea of Galilee from the cave of Eremos (© Don Schwager) Swimming in the Sea of Galilee (© Israel Ministry of Tourism) Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee (© Tom Callinan/Seetheholyland.net) Wild wheat by the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Greek Orthodox church at Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee (Seetheholyland.net) Ashkenazi, Eli: “Two-year fishing ban cut down to four-month annual break”, Haaretz, February 16, 2011 Charlesworth, James H.: The Millennium Guide for Pilgrims to the Holy Land (BIBAL Press, 2000) Freeman-Grenville, G. S.

P.: The Holy Land: A Pilgrim’s Guide to Israel, Jordan and the Sinai (Continuum Publishing, 1996) Gonen, Rivka: Biblical Holy Places: An illustrated guide (Collier Macmillan, 1987) Jeffay, Nathan, and Singh, Anita: “Fishing banned on the Sea of Galilee”, The Telegraph, April 3, 2010 Murphy-O’Connor, Jerome: The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700 (Oxford University Press, 2005) Nun, Mendel: “Cast Your Net Upon the Waters: Fish and Fishermen in Jesus’ Time”, Biblical Archaeology Review, November/December 1993 Pixner, Bargil: With Jesus Through Galilee According to the Fifth Gospel (Corazin Publishing, 1992) Walker, Peter: In the Steps of Jesus (Zondervan, 2006) Wareham, Norman, and Gill, Jill: Every Pilgrim’s Guide to the Holy Land (Canterbury Press, 1996) Top 10 things to do at the Sea of Galilee | IS

RAEL21c #SeaOfGalilee Top 10 things to do at the Sea of Galilee It’s really a lake, but whatever you call this Galilee waterway, lots of fun and educational activities lure visitors.

ISRAEL21c gives you the top 10. August 7, 2012, 12:30 am Water sports are extremely popular on the Kinneret. Photo by Flash90. Email Did you know that Israel’s famous Sea of Galilee is actually a lake? It’s had a variety of names since biblical times, but in Israel it’s called Lake Kinneret, and it holds several distinctions: the largest freshwater reservoir in Israel, the only natural freshwater lake in Israel and the lowest freshwater lake in the world. (The only lower lake is the Dead Sea, also in Israel.) No matter what you call it, the Kinneret is the focal point of the Galilee. Its cool waters are surrounded by both sandy and rocky beaches, kibbutzim – including the very first one, Degania (“Cornflower”) — and a huge assortment of historic, natural, archeological, recreational and religious attractions that bring in visitors from all over the world. Spread the Word • Email this article to friends or colleagues • Share this article on Facebook or Twitter • Write about and link to this article on your blog • Local relevancy?

Send this article to your local press On our top 10 list of places to explore around the Kinneret, we have not included the many significant Christian sites. Watch for a list of those places to visit on ISRAEL21c at a later time. 1. Water sports and recreation What would a lake be without some wet fun? Cruise the lake in a floating restaurant, nightclub yacht, fishing boat, kayak or canoe – all available to rent or book in advance on the shoreline, particularly at the Yigal Alon Harbor in Tiberias. Or splash around at one of three water amusement parks in the vicinity. If you really want to be adventurous, go kite surfing or windsurfing, or book a cruise operated by the Kinneret Sailing Company . (04-665-8008) Cruise the lake on a boat. Photo by 2. Hot Springs The Kinneret area has long been famous for its natural hot springs. Tiberias Hot Springs consists of ancient pools fed by 17 natural springs, where you can get massages, mud treatments and Turkish baths.

The site has indoor and outdoor thermo-mineral pools, a hot tub, heated swimming pool, private beach (with separate area for religiously observant bathers), saunas and gym. Hamat Gader Hot Springs spa is about five miles southeast of the lake. The thermo-mineral springs, including a hot waterfall, measure 42 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) all year long. The ancient Romans built their second-largest bath complex (Israel’s largest) here 2,000 years ago. Today you can get a full range of pampering and therapeutic treatments, and even stay on-site in a suite hotel. There’s also an ancient synagogue, with a beautiful mosaic floor, open to visitors. (04-665-9964) The surrounding Hamat Gader Park consists of 40 acres of tropical parkland with covered outdoor settings, restaurants and one of the largest crocodile farms in the Middle East, housing about 200 of the reptiles. (04-665-9999) 3.

Korazim National Park Situated within the local basalt landscape overlooking the Kinneret, this site contains the preserved remains of the ancient Jewish town of Korazim, known for its cultivated fine wheat. You can see a Bedouin sheikh’s tomb and explore a fourth-century basalt synagogue, where archeologists found the Aramaic-inscribed “Moses Seat” described in ancient sources as a place of honor for the community’s hot-shots. You can’t sit on it, but you can stake out a picnic table set among the Christ-thorn jujube trees and Mount Tabor oak. (04-693-4982) 4. Naharayim (“Two rivers”) and Island of Peace Straddling the Jordan and Yarmuk rivers near the Kinneret, Naharayim was the site of the first hydroelectric power plant in pre-state Israel, which no longer functions but is open for tours. This border area is where Israel and Jordan signed their 1994 peace treaty, and accordingly the site became known as the Island of Peace. A scenic walking path takes you through the Island of Peace along the dams and the Yarmuk waterfalls.

Displays include a vintage bridge and inn, border post, bus, train and armored vehicle. A guided tour goes to the Hill of Plucked Flowers, a garden memorializing seven Israeli schoolgirls murdered by a deranged Jordanian soldier here in 1997. The Sea of Galilee is Israel’s largest freshwater lake, and a focal point of life in the Galilee. Photo by Flash90. Nearby Kibbutz Gesher – one of two kibbutzim that manage the site — offers a light-and-sound show, “Legend of Bread” baking workshops and an underground museum about Israel’s wars since 1948. (04-675-2685) 5. The Daliyot Stream (Majraseh) Reserve Encompassing 1,750 acres, the Majraseh is Israel’s largest reserve of natural freshwater landscapes — the wetlands of Bethsaida Valley, plus pools, springs and fishing lagoons. A paved trail leads to the Daliyot Stream, where you can wade downstream to a staircase leading up to a eucalyptus grove, or continue to the end of the marked trail.

An alternative dry route takes hikers along the southern bank to a picnic area in the eucalyptus grove. The valley is connected with the ancient city of Bethsaida, where archeologists are excavating Bronze Age and Iron Age remains as well as remnants of the Roman period. (04-679-3410) 6. Kibbutz Degania Aleph and Bet (A and B) Degania Aleph’s Gordon House, founded in 1935, was one of the first nature museums in Israel. Its artifacts date back to prehistoric times until the beginning of Zionism. It has a diverse taxidermy collection, films about the local nature and settlement of the area and an archeological display. And there are personal items and letters from A.D. Gordon, a pioneer hero of the “Second Aliyah,” the second wave of immigration from Russia between 1904 and 1914. (04-675-0040) Go over to neighboring Degania Bet, founded in 1920, for a three-hour chocolate-making workshop at Galita Chocolate Farm , a factory and retail outlet housed in a former cowshed.

Proprietress Galit Alpert also runs a coffee bar where you can sample her homemade ice cream. (04-675-5608) Chocolate making at Galita Chocolate Farm. 7. The Yigal Alon Center , a.k.a. “The Jesus Boat Museum” Located at Kibbutz Ginosar, this museum has a separate hall housing the so-called “Jesus boat” – a 2,000-year-old craft of eight meters long that was discovered in the 1980s when a drought in Israel caused the water level in the Kinneret to fall dramatically. The center’s other galleries trace the history of civilization and nature in the area, and showcase artworks made by Arabs and Jews of the Galilee. Alon was a founding member of the kibbutz, an active participant in the pre-state settlement movement, an officer in the Palmach and a government minister. (04-672-7700) Yigal Alon Center. Photo courtesy of Israel Tourism Ministry 8. Circle the lake You can walk or bike around the Sea of Galilee on the new 60-kilometer Shvil Sovev Kinneret.

Rent a cycle and begin the route at Kibbutz HaOn and continue past the Degania Dam to Kibbutz Kinneret. Cycling round the Kinneret is a lovely way to enjoy the scenery. Photo by Not into pumping your legs? Try Jordan Carriages , a horse-drawn trip in the southern Jordan River area accompanied by local lore and songs; hire a jeep or ATV guide; or hop on the free “Around the Sea of Galilee” bus line, which run from Tiberias to all of the Kinneret beaches. (*55477). 9. Kibbutz Ein Gev A Kibbutz Experience train takes visitors through the kibbutz, which offers lakeside guesthouses on the eastern shore of the Kinneret. The 30-minute guided tour explains how the kibbutz, founded in 1937 by a group including Teddy Kollek, future mayor of Jerusalem, weathered attacks from Syria until the Six-Day War. At Saba (“Grandpa”) Yosi’s Workshop on the harbor, kids and parents may build (or buy) wooden toys and climb the pirate ship built by Saba Yosi.

Also on the kibbutz is the 200 Art Gallery and the House of Anchors museum , boasting a unique collection of fishing-related artifacts found around the lake area from the past 3,000 years. Kibbutz Ein Gev guesthouses. Photo courtesy of Israel Tourism Ministry 10. Sound-and-light show on the lake A 15-minute, state-of-the-art multimedia presentation is shown free of charge every evening on the southern end of the Tiberias lakeside promenade. Four shows projected onto two huge water screens colorfully highlight the development of the area, accompanied by classical music. You’ll see dancing fountains styled on the famous one at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas; pyrotechnics screened onto jets of water reaching 30 feet into the night sky; and a laser show. Catch the action at 8:30, 9:30 or 10 p.m.

Sea of Galilee (Lake Kineret) Sea of Galilee (Lake Kineret) Daliyat El-Carmel » Sea of Galilee (Lake Kineret) ​The Kineret, or Sea of Galilee, is Israel’s largest fresh water reservoir, and is also the country’s largest and most important source of drinking water​​ On this Page: Accommodations » All winter long, the most important part of the news report for Israelis is not the dollar-shekel exchange rate or the level of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange index, but rather the water level in Lake Kineret, which often reflects the national spirit. The Kineret, or Sea of Galilee, is Israel’s largest fresh water reservoir, and is also the country’s largest and most important source and reservoir of drinking water. For this and other reasons, the Kineret has become an important national symbol and is also a first class tourism center. The beaches that surround the entire lake are similar but different. The width of the beaches varies in keeping with the local geography, creating different landscapes in every location.

Above the eastern and western shores, for example, rise the Galilee mountains and the foothills of the Golan , while to the north there is the Beit Tsida valley, a wide area with plentiful water that drains from the Jordan River and the Golan streams, and to the south is the Jordan estuary, which flows south toward the desert regions. For this reason, some of the Kineret’s beaches have soft sand, while others are rocky; some beaches are narrow while others are very wide. Either way, the beaches are fun and offer many tourist attractions for every age group. Most of the beaches allow nature-loving visitors to sleep in camping areas on the sand, and there are also hostels, guest houses and beachfront hotels. Most of the beaches also offer various types of water sports and water activities, such as boating in inflatable rubber dinghies, canoes, etc.; children can enjoy the giant slides at the water parks (Luna Gal, Tsemakh or Gai Beach). There are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores along the way, and most of all one can enjoy the calm and tranquility. The beaches surrounding the Kineret are also a perfect starting point for wonderful nature tours of the area.

Some of the most popular and beautiful nature sites are the Jordan Park, the Beit Tsida Nature Reserve , Khamat Gader , Naharayim. There is also the lower Golan Heights region, which borders on the Kineret and is full of swift flowing streams, historic sites and nature reserves. The Kineret played an important role in the early years of Christianity and has now become a pilgrimage site for many Christians. According to Christian tradition, Jesus lived, preached and performed miracles in the Kineret and the surrounding region. It was here that he walked on the water and the miracle of the loaves and the fishes happened in nearby Kfar Nakhum (Capernaum) . There are many Christian holy sites around the Kineret, including the Mount of Beatitudes , the Church of the Loaves and the Fishes , Kfar Nakhum, Kursi , " Yardenit​ " Baptismal Site, and the wooden boat discovered in the lake and now on display at Kibbutz Ginosar.

Other nearby historic sites include Migdal, Tel Hadar, Ubeidiya (Israel’s most important prehistoric site), Beit Tsida, Kibbutz Dganya Alef, Moshavat Kineret and the city of Tiberias . Jesus and the Sea of Galilee Jesus and the Sea of Galilee Non-Technical - Mar 06, 2009 - by Todd Bolen Share/recommend this article: Excerpt According to the gospels, Jesus’ earthly ministry centered around the Sea of Galilee. While important events occurred in Jerusalem, the Lord spent most of the three years of His ministry along the shore of this freshwater lake. Here He gave more than half of His parables and here He performed most of his miracles... Continue reading Explore Related Articles Greatest Fish Stories Ever Told As the calm waters reflected the slowly rising sun over the Sea of Galilee, a lonely figure walked f... Thinking Clearly About the "Jesus Family Tomb" According to James Tabor, after John was executed by Herod, Jesus went to Jerusalem and confronted t... Three Woes! The center of Jesus' Galilean ministry was an area now called the "evangelical triangle." At the poi...

Tags Support Like this artice? Our Ministry relies on the generosity of people like you. Every small donation helps us develop and publish great articles. Please support ABR! This article was first published in the Fall 2003 issue of Bible and Spade. According to the gospels, Jesus’ earthly ministry centered around the Sea of Galilee. While important events occurred in Jerusalem, the Lord spent most of the three years of His ministry along the shore of this freshwater lake. Here He gave more than half of His parables and here He performed most of his miracles. Capernaum, on the northwestern shore, became Jesus’ “hometown” throughout His ministry. Three of His disciples hailed from Bethsaida, a few miles distant from Capernaum. These two cities, together with Chorazin 3 km (2 mi) inland from Capernaum, were condemned by Jesus for receiving much but believing little. A famous follower of Christ was Mary of Magdala, a town on the lake’s western shore. Early Christians hallowed the lakeside, building churches commemorating the feeding of the five thousand, the Sermon on the Mount, the primacy of Peter, and the house of Peter. Tabgha shoreline from boat.

Names Known in the Hebrew Bible as Chinnereth, Josephus used the Hellenized form of this name, Gennesar or Gennesaritis, most frequently in his writings. Luke uses this term, but the more common New Testament designation is the familiar “Sea of Galilee.” John twice refers to it as the “Sea of Tiberias.” Pliny notes that some called it Tarichaeae after the name of another town along its shore. Dimensions The Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake on earth at approximately 210 m (700 ft) below sea level. At its widest points, the lake measures 21 km (13 mi) from north to south and 12 km (7.5 mi) from east to west. The lake’s total area is 170 sq km) (64 sq. mi) and its circumference is about 51 km (32 mi). Its deepest point has been variously estimated between 44 and 60 m (140-200 ft) and its capacity is approximately three billion cubic meters (one hundred billion cubic ft).

Today Yam Kinneret, as Israelis know it, is the primary source of water for the nation and as such the government carefully regulates its outward flow to the Jordan River. The Degania dam was built in 1932 to control the water level and when the lake fills after good winter rainfalls, the Sea of Galilee is about 1 m (3.3 ft.) higher than it was in the time of Christ. This is apparent from the level of the harbors that have survived from the first century. Jordan River entering Sea of Galilee. The Jordan River is the main source of water for the lake, supplying about 75 percent of the lake’s annual intake. Direct rainfall provides another 8 percent and the remainder comes from springs and wadis in the area. Numerous springs are located around the Sea of Galilee, particularly along the northwestern shore, but because of the higher salinity of these waters, today many of these springs are diverted to flow directly into the Jordan River south of the lake. Climate and Storm Patterns The climate around the Sea of Galilee is temperate year-round, largely owing to its elevation below sea level.

The average mean temperature in August is 31°C (88° F) and January’s average mean temperature is a mild 14°C (57°F). The relative humidity averages 65 percent and the lake receives about 41 cm (16 in) of rain annually. Ancient Harbor at Tabgha The Sea of Galilee is known for its violent storms, which can come up suddenly and be life-threatening for any on its waters. These tempests are caused by the situation of the lake in the Jordan Rift with steep hills on all sides. The cooler air masses from the surrounding mountains collide with the warm air in the lake’s basin. Winds sometimes funnel through the east-west-oriented valleys in the Galilean hill country and rush down the western hillsides of the lake. The most violent storms, however, are caused by the fierce winds which blow off the Golan Heights from the east. One such storm in March 1992 sent waves 3 m (10 ft) high crashing into downtown Tiberias and caused significant damage to the city. Harbors and Fishing Aside from a few natural inlets on the northern side, the Sea of Galilee does not have any natural harbors.

The fishing industry that grew up around the lake as early as the Early Bronze Age (3300–2300 BC) resulted in the construction of artificial breakwaters. The first ancient harbor was discovered at Kursi in 1970 and since then 15 additional harbors have been identified. Most assume that these were in use during the flourishing first century AD and it is certain that Jesus and his disciples were familiar with many of them. The harbors that the disciples most likely would have frequented were those at Capernaum, Tabgha, Gennesar and Magdala. The Capernaum harbor is particularly noteworthy as it extended for more than 800m (2500 ft) along the shore, a length greater than that of the city. The presence of numerous and large harbors attests to the commercial importance of the lake during Jesus’ life. (By contrast, today there are only five harbors on the lake and these are used primarily for boats for tourists.) Magdala apparently was the industrial center of the fishing trade, and fish to be exported were first salted here.

Today 35 species of fish make their home in the waters of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, but three types seem to be most common in the New Testament record. The sardines were a staple of the locals’ diet and these were probably the “two small “fish” which Jesus used to feed the multitude. The musht fish has a long dorsal fin that resembles a comb and is today popularly known as “St. Peter’s fish.” This tasty fish could measure up to 0.5 m (18 in) and weigh 1.5 kg (3.3 lb). The third type is the catfish, which is not considered kosher because of its lack of scales. These probably would have been brought to mind when Jesus referred to the bad fish that would be thrown away (Mt 13:48). The significance of the Sea of Galilee in Jesus’ ministry is indicated by the fact that some of the first and some of the last events in His ministry occurred here. Shortly after the temptation, Jesus traveled to Capernaum with His family (Jn 2:12).

Later Jesus would live in Capernaum and call four of His disciples from among the fishermen in the area (Mt 4). While He performed many miracles at points along the lakeshore, two of His most dramatic miracles were done on the water itself when He stilled the storm (Lk 8:22–25) and walked on the water (Mk 6:47–52). Following His resurrection, Jesus cooked breakfast on the shore for seven of the disciples (Jn 21). The rabbis declared of the Sea of Galilee that, “Although God has created seven seas, yet He has chosen this one as His special delight.” Certainly Jesus must have felt the same way. Sunset over the Sea of Galilee. All pictures taken by author Todd Bolen, Recommended Resources for Further Study The mystery mound where Jesus walked on water? | ISRAEL21c #Sea of Galilee The mystery mound where Jesus walked on water? Israeli scientists puzzle over how an ancient stone structure twice the diameter of Stonehenge ended up in the Sea of Galilee. Email Millions of Christian pilgrims visit Israel every year to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

They follow tour guides on Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa, hike the Abraham and Jesus trails in the Galilee, and visit Nazareth, where Jesus gave sermons to his followers. Now there may be a brand-new pilgrimage stop to witness where one of the biggest New Testament miracles took place: where Jesus walked on water. Spread the Word • Email this article to friends or colleagues • Share this article on Facebook or Twitter • Write about and link to this article on your blog • Local relevancy? Send this article to your local press To date, the exact location of this miracle out at “sea” is not known. Israel’s newest archeological discovery, practically a stone’s throw from the baptismal site of Jesus on the River Jordan, may provide a clue, though nobody really knows yet what it is. Israeli researchers led by Prof. Shmulik Marco from Tel Aviv University, who recently reported this discovery in the Journal of Nautical Archaeology , uncovered a third-century BCE mound of stones out in the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret to Israelis). Come summer, the top of the mound almost pokes out of the water, lending enough space for birds to rest several hundreds of meters out in Israel’s only freshwater lake.

While the mound of stones, conical in shape, and about 70 meters from side to side certainly pre-dates Jesus, Marco tells ISRAEL21c, one of the theories is that the stones may have provided the platform for one of Jesus’ miracles out in a stormy sea where he walked on water and was able to rescue followers. This drawing shows how the mound sits in the Sea of Galilee. This platform would have provided a small pedestal upon which Jesus could have stood, Marco points out. This theory, and others about how the stones got there and why, are some of the unanswered mysteries that led Marco to publish the research this year on the submerged stones. The stones were originally unearthed by his underwater team using imaging technology to survey the southwestern tip of the Sea of Galilee for evidence of tectonic shift and ancient earthquakes –– his specialty. Marco says that remains of 20,000-year-old fishing huts near the mound indicate that the lake was an important source of income and food for earlier people in the region, while the mounds themselves probably correspond to an ancient city nearby, called Beit Yerah.

After intense prodding from the archeological community about the potential significance of these stones ––likely a cairn to protect ancient remains, Marco postulates –– he and his team went ahead with publishing the news. Messing with the bottom of the lake “Upon discovering the mound, we immediately realized that it was manmade,” says Marco. “But honestly, we didn’t think that we’d come across something that was that important. Going into the Sea of Galilee, we were mainly interested in the composition of the bottom of the lake, so we didn’t focus on the archeological aspect. Out of our focus range, we decided to ‘give in’ to the archeologists after significant prodding from their side. “So we went ahead, and said let’s publish this news even if we don’t understand its meaning or importance.” Prof. Marco thinks the stones were assembled on land and moved into the lake as the result of an earthquake. This news has sparked many exciting international debates in the archeological, scientific and theological communities around the world, says Marco. Now he and his team, and other specialists in the field, are seeking research funds to continue exploring this underwater mystery, but there will be hurdles ahead.

They face immense bureaucratic challenges, as local authorities are extremely protective over the Sea of Galilee and its bounty of hidden archeology remains. “The administration there is very touchy about anyone messing with the bottom of the lake,” says Marco. And for good reason: The Sea of Galilee and what lies there unearthed is not only significant for the Christians. The surrounding city of Tiberias was a religious center for Jewish scholars in the Second Temple period. But there are technical problems, too. “The water is very murky,” says Marco. When diving, I could only see about one-and-a-half to two meters in front of me, making it hard to excavate such a large structure.” Marco says that the stones of the ancient cairn are wedged together tightly with sediment, so it’s not likely that they could send a probe down into the stones — which probably were assembled on land and shifted into the lake after a powerful earthquake, he surmises. He could prove this theory if he could take samples of the sediment below the stones, from the edges of the mound.

If Marco were able to date sediment from land, and connect it to a past earthquake or abrupt tectonic shift after the time of Jesus, he would be able to say with confidence that Jesus did not walk on water at that site. And if the stones were already out in the water at the time of Jesus? Then this question will remain open and yet another Holy Land mystery will be ready for debate.

Question: What is Lake Kinnernet in Israel known as in the Bible?
Answer: The Sea of Galilee